​And, another fine week it has been. What great weather to enjoy the outdoors. I had a wonderful day off starting with a “hacking out,” think trail ride on my mighty steed Z. He has been on “vacation” for a few weeks after a hard 9 months of fairly continuous training. So, he’s been chomping on grass and moseying along in the pastures. We’ll be back to work next week. He and Picasso have had their fall “maintenance” i.e. shots and dentist visits. My niece, Katie, rides Picasso a couple of times a week so he’s getting her attention along with mine and her mom, my sister, Liz’s big time. Just because he is retired from showing doesn’t mean he’s not the “main man” still. The pups are great too. Nikibelle will be 12 on Tuesday and bounds around like a 2 year old. She and Pico keep each other in shape with playful and energetic wrestling. Pico loves to accompany me as I fill the bird feeders and today we startled a huge owl. It was just dusk and we both saw it in unison, surprising ourselves. It was large enough that I took the dogs inside as I didn’t trust that he, or she, would not try to snatch one for dinner. I think they are too big but I’ve seen the hawks around my woods, much smaller than the owl, flying off with good size prey. I wasn’t taking the chance. I did grab my binoculars and was glad that it had not moved from its perch and I watched it for a good time as it rotated its head nearly 360 degrees searching for supper. It was fascinating to observe and a real treat as there are not many chances to enjoy such a beautiful and powerful bird so close-up.

Monday is Columbus Day, the anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas on 10-12-1492. An Italian explorer from the Republic of Genoa he was the first European to make the voyage across “the ocean blue.” Franklin Roosevelt declared it a federal holiday in 1937 and it was fixed to the second Monday in October in 1970. Ironically the day coincides with Canada’s Thanksgiving and the Anniversary of the U.S. Navy on 10-13-1775. Although it is a very patriotic holiday framed around national loyalty and social progress it is controversial because the settlement of Europeans led to the demise of large portions of native people. Unlike the banks and post office we’ll be open with arms wide-open to greet you all day!